Telangana BJP Chief Detained During Protest At State Secretariat

(MENAFN- IANS) Hyderabad, Sep 3 (IANS) Telangana BJP president Ramchander Rao and several senior party leaders were detained by Hyderabad Police on Thursday while attempting to stage a protest at the Telangana State Secretariat over pending student fee reimbursement dues.

The BJP leaders had sought permission to enter the Secretariat and submit a representation to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, demanding the release of pending fee reimbursement funds for students.

However, police stopped the protesters, including activists of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), at the Secretariat's main gate. The leaders insisted on meeting the Chief Minister and entering the premises, but security personnel denied permission.

As the protesters refused to disperse, some allegedly attempted to scale the closed gate, leading to a brief scuffle with security personnel. Police subsequently detained Ramchander Rao, BJP Legislature Party leader Aleti Maheshwar Reddy, MP D.K. Aruna and several others.

While Ramchander Rao was shifted to Chikkadpally Police Station, D.K. Aruna was taken to Gandhi Nagar Police Station.

Reacting to his detention, Ramchander Rao said the BJP would continue its agitation until all pending dues are released. In a post on X, he alleged that the Congress government had "arrested the voice of 40 lakh students" awaiting fee reimbursement and vowed to continue the fight for their rights.

In another post, the Telangana BJP chief claimed that around 40 lakh students had been adversely affected due to the non-release of pending fee reimbursement dues, which he pegged at Rs 15,000 crore. He said he had earlier undertaken a hunger strike, written to the Chief Minister and collected eight lakh signatures from students seeking the clearance of the dues.

According to the BJP leader, he had sought an appointment with the Chief Minister through a letter dated August 31 to submit representations from students. However, after receiving no response, he and other party leaders proceeded to the Secretariat and launched the protest when they were denied entry.

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